Indigenous Entrepreneurs: How to access funding to scale your business

Invest Ottawa is dedicated to helping Ottawa entrepreneurs make informed decisions about starting and growing their businesses. We promote Ottawa's economy, through the development of products and services that encourage entrepreneurship and support business growth.Invest Ottawa has a staff of dedicated business professionals, who provide advice and counsel to entrepreneurs on a variety of levels. As well, we provide links to other business organizations, seminars and entrepreneurial events, online training and many other tools and resources to assist the budding entrepreneur.

Invest Ottawa Education Centre

Let's explore how to scale your business and access funding, with a special focus on programs available for Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Join Invest Ottawa, EDC, and RBC for a free workshop for Indigenous entrepreneurs in Canada. This one-hour workshop will explore how to scale your business and access funding, with a special focus on programs available for Indigenous entrepreneurs and exporters. If your business is Indigenous owned or led and you’re looking for tips and guidance on how to grow, we look forward to meeting you! The workshop will be led by Todd Evans, National Lead Indigenous Exporters at EDC and Harry Willmot, Regional Vice-President Indigenous Markets at RBC and will also feature a case study by entrepreneur Jason Thompson, President of Superior Strategies Inc., and Superior Strategies Supply and Service. Bree Jamieson-Holloway, Founder and Lawyer at Jamieson Law, will moderate. About the SpeakersTodd EvansAs National Lead for Indigenous Exporters, Todd’s role is to advance Export Development Canada’s understanding of the needs and challenges of the Indigenous business community, and to lead EDC’s strategy to support the growing export needs of Indigenous businesses.Prior to taking on his current role in 2019, Todd was a principal with EDC’s Economics team. His previous positions at EDC include director of economic analysis and forecasting, and director of the corporate research department. Before joining EDC in 1997, Todd worked with various public and private sector organizations including Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, the Economic Council of Canada, the Conference Board of Canada and HLB. Todd has a BA degree in economics and statistics from Memorial University of Newfoundland and a MA degree in economics from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Originally from Newfoundland and Labrador, Todd is proud of his Mi’kmaw culture. He is a traditional pow wow dancer and plans to spend a lot more time on the pow wow trail when he retires.Harry WillmotHarry Willmot is an artist and activist, a husband and father of two, and a pet bear. Harry has worked in the financial industry for over forty years, and has managed a number of dynamic initiatives for RBC Royal Bank. Harry is currently responsible for leading the Bank’s indigenous market strategy, and is Regional VP Indigenous Markets Eastern Canada.Harry is an active community member in Toronto. Currently he sits as advice and counsel to the Catherine Donnelly Foundation and the Conference board of Canada. Over the years he has, and continues to serve on numerous regional, provincial and national advisory councils, including the AFN’s advisory council on housing and infrastructure, the province of Ontario’s department of aboriginal affairs and the department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.Past founding director for Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training, and Miziwe Biik Development Corporation. He is a past governing director for the Circle for Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples of Canada; Community council advisor to the Metro Toronto Police Aboriginal peace keeping unit and the Toronto police services board, the National Aboriginal literacy foundation and director of the Toronto Native Centre’s Mishkawijiwan Foundation.Bree Jamieson-HollowayBree is a corporate lawyer, qualified in Ontario and the UK. She has practiced in London, England and Hong Kong, and is now based in Ottawa where she runs her own legal and consulting firm Jamieson Law. Bree has broad international business experience working for and representing government, public and private sector companies of all sizes, and organizations from around the world.Jamieson Law is a boutique business law firm providing legal advice and business consulting services to companies from startups to small businesses and growing enterprises. Jamieson Law specializing in all areas of business, corporate, commercial and employment law.As an entrepreneur, Bree brings enthusiasm for innovation and a forward-thinking approach to her work. Bree uses her keen business eye to help build businesses from the ground up while offering exceptional legal and consulting services to her clients. Bree is a 40 under 40 winner, sits on numerous boards and advisory councils and is a published author, having written articles for Practical Law UK and Westlaw Insights.Jason ThompsonA proud member of the Red Rock Indian Band, Jason Thompson brings a wealth of knowledge to the Superior Strategies team. With over 20 years of business and management experience, Mr. Thompson has proven to be a skilled executive and visionary entrepreneur. The President of Superior Strategies Inc., and Superior Strategies Supply and Service, Jason is very proud to say these are 100% Indigenous Owned and Operated Businesses, and have demonstrated continued growth year after year. The never setting and opportunistic traits, are also evident in the recent launch of his very own Warrior Brand, which includes a variety of PPE, Work Wear and most recently Warrior Engineering.Throughout his career Jason has always demonstrated strong leadership skills and has realized the importance of building and maintaining a successful team. Never settling, collaborative, out of the box thinker are a few adjectives that can be used to explain Jason. A proud father of three, who recently welcomed his First Grand Child, Jason and his wife Tara are approaching 24 Years of Marriage, ultimately linking his success to his strong family support. Jason remains a very strong advocate for meaningful participation of Indigenous People and Businesses on a local and national level.*Please note that you will receive an email with the link to join this webinar upon registering and before the session. If you do not receive it, please check your junk mailbox.

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Indigenous Entrepreneurs: How to access funding to scale your business

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